Merlot

[kibby7170]

Do you serve Merlot at room temperature or do you refrigerate? Also, is this a dinner wine?

[Jerry D Mead]

It is a dinner wine...it is generally one of the softer, easier to drink reds. Works well with red meats, but also is nice with salmon and tuna, pork and veal.

Folks say "room temp" for most reds, but that rule got started in drafty old European castles where the temp was much cooler. Especially in the summer, I like to place my reds in the fridge for just 10-15 minutes, just to drop the temp a few degrees. Ideal temp for red in my opinion is cellar temp...about 60 degrees.

Which Merlot are you trying?

JDM

[kibby7170]

I'm just a beginner so I purchased Beringer 1996 Hudson Estate Merlot. I haven't opened it yet. I'll let you know if I like it. You can tell I'm a novice because my favorite wine is Asti.

Thanks for replying. Have a great 4th.

[Jerry D Mead]

If you like Asti...Try Ballatore Spumante...it's a very inexpensive California product made from the same grape variety and that wins gold medals every year.

Merlot has no sweetness...the best chance you'll take to red wine after drinking mostly fruity, sweet white is to make sure you try it with food. Red wine, at least for beginners, really needs to be paired with food.

A couple of really good value Merlots are Stone Creek and Forest Glen.

JDM